CHESTER CITY went to the top of the Nationwide Conference thanks to a hard-fought victory at Christie Park last night, against a Morecambe side who were previously unbeaten at home in the League this season.

City turned in a gritty and determined performance, with the only goal of the game coming after 76 minutes from Daryl Clare, who bundled the ball over the line from close range, after work from Brady and Stamp.

Hereford's defeat at Accrington Stanley meant that Chester leap-frog the Bulls to the top of the table for the first time this season.

City gave a debut to new signing Alex Smith, who looked comfortable in a midfield role, and his creativity gave the visitors an extra dimension to their game.

The majority of the first half was a scrappy affair, with both defences dealing comfortably with everything that came their way.

However, the final 12 minutes of the period brought the game to life, with Curtis rattling the City post, and Davies unlucky when a 25-yard thunderbolt thudded into the Morecambe bar and came back into play.

Chester were forced to make a substitution at the start of the second period, with Wayne Brown coming on in place of Ian McCaldon who suffered a groin strain during the first half.

Brown was quickly in the action, moving smartly to take a through ball from Swan off the feet of the on-rushing Walmsley.

Stamp flashed a header over for City, and Carden brought out a good save from Mawson in the Morecambe goal.

The deadlock was broken when a good run from Brady down the right saw the Australian winger launch a high ball to the far post, the dependable Stamp headed the ball across the face of the goal, were Clare beat his marker well to scramble the ball over the line.

Morecambe then tried to come back into the game, and Brown made two saves in quick succession from Carlton.

Despite an amazing six minutes of added time, Chester were rarely troubled towards the end of the game, and ran out worthy winners. This victory dented Morecambe's home sequence of not losing in the Conference which stretches back to a club record of just under two years.

CHESTER CITY: McCaldon (Brown 46), Collins, McIntyre, Carden, Bolland, Smith (Guyett 90), Davies, Clare (Foster 79), Brady, Ruffer, Stamp. Subs: Rapley, Twiss.

REFEREE: Mr Steven Brand (Wirral).

ATT: 1,959.